Gill-T

Looks like heavy equipment starting to show up at the Hanover Launch on the Catt. Dredging should be starting soon. Hopefully they fix the launch pads also.

Consider inviting another person to help pay for gas.

Crews are supposed to begin work on removing the ice boom today. Plan your Niagara River trips accordingly.

I am wondering if we all might take less trips to the lake this year. To reduce gas consumption I am making arrangements to have my boat storage at the ports I plan to fish. I like to have my boat closer so I can work on my boat when needed but not this year.

Most years the peak spawning has already happened by April 1st opener. There is a trickle run that continues after the crowds leave. The part that is damaging is the shoulder to shoulder wading and disturbance of the redds/gravel. I did the derby a few times as one of my college friends lived in Naples and turned me onto the fishery. The initial excitement evolved into me feeling dirty to be part of the **** show so I stopped. The benefit is getting kids hooked on fishing.

I would take a little hard work with a metal rake/pitch fork and be able to launch my boat over working on the honeydo list at home every time.

I can’t imagine out of state folks wanting to book a trip to NY to go see all the pretty solar panels. The whole environmental benefit argument goes right out the window when you are swapping living plants for solar panels. Put them on the top of buildings, the infrastructure to hook into is already present. NYS says they want to reduce carbon footprint and yet how much gas is used to mow the grass around highways???? I wish there was altruism at work unfortunately it is about a select few getting rich. There are no lines at the gas stations, nor any shortage of gas flowing out of the Americas and Canada and yet we are back to 4$ per gallon. A select few getting rich. Where are the “well I didn’t vote for him” bumper stickers now??

I love the solar projects on landfill idea and am starting to see some around Niagara Falls but to take up state forest and wetland tracks??????? WTF.

https://www.npca.org/articles/11371-president-s-budget-proposal-slashes-national-park-service-funding-amid

https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/trump-administration-orders-dismantling-us-forest-service/7716263 Full disclosure I have no idea what this website is. I will to try to find more well known sites to verify

Ya sorry that didn’t happen. When we flew around storms last night we were over Niagara County and all I could see was brown water everywhere in farm fields. I imagine the shoreline will be a little too muddy to troll for a little bit.

Like many other NYers, much of our family and friends have moved to NC. Always good to visit the state to feel the heat again and to gain perspective of life outside of NY while exploring outdoor pursuits. This trip was to spend time with my younger brother and check on a new to us fishery at Lake Hickory. Beater 1970’s StarCraft acquired for $1,000 a month before the trip. Transom was shot which left little time for my brother to slap a new one in with temps warm enough to do glass work. Work on the boat finished two days prior to my arrival. We would be placing our trust in an old Johnson 25 hp outboard with a failing shift cable but hey …..we all need a little adventure in our dull lives. Lake Hickory is a river system comprised of many dams. Like all of NC, it is an explosion of growth and new builds. The houses that line the lake are outrageous. Our stay included a three night stay in a VBRO with a huge dock (a must). The goal was to catch Striped Bass and anything else that would bite. To prevent writing a novel I will summarize by saying we experienced quality over quantity. Stripers were caught trolling A-rigs with three inch paddle tails off planer boards, catfish caught on bluegills at night, bluegills caught on worms, bass caught on swimbaits and blade baits. Great trip but it really makes you appreciate the fisheries we have back home. Bass boats everywhere down there pounding the docks. You REALLY have to work for your fish. The trip finished on the Green River near my brother’s house. This poor river made headlines during Hurricane Helene which turned a blue ribbon trout stream into a deadly torrent of mud. The stream will take 100 years before all the sand is gone.

Congrats!

Anyone tries these?

A true prespawn gathering with the lot split 50/50 males to females. My guess is the group off Huron will be closer to the bass islands by this weekend.

Three man limit by 1 pm. Tail dancers and bandits. 50/50 method w/ 1,1.5, or 2 oz weight

First of the year. Second line out. Fishing out of Huron